Uses of Groundnuts:
- Snacks: Eaten roasted, salted, or spiced as a popular snack.
- Peanut Butter: Groundnuts are processed into peanut butter, a common spread for bread and sandwiches.
- Culinary: Used in cooking and baking, especially in sauces, stews, or desserts like peanut brittle and cookies.
- Oil: Extracted to produce peanut oil, used for cooking and frying due to its high smoke point.
Benefits of Groundnuts:
- High in Protein: Groundnuts are a great source of plant-based protein, supporting muscle growth and repair.
- Rich in Healthy Fats: Contains monounsaturated fats, which are beneficial for heart health.
- Packed with Nutrients: Rich in vitamins and minerals like vitamin E, B vitamins, magnesium, and phosphorus, supporting overall health.
- Antioxidant-Rich: Groundnuts contain antioxidants such as resveratrol, which help reduce oxidative stress and inflammation.
Characteristics:
- Small, oval-shaped pods with a reddish-brown skin.
- The seeds are smooth and pale yellow or light brown in color.
- Grow underground, with the plant’s flowers pollinating and causing the pods to develop beneath the soil.
